A NEW open air bird watching screen has been built on Walney so that nature enthusiasts can watch wildlife whilst staying safe from Covid.

Due to the open air nature of the screens, they are usable by the public as roofed bird hides had to be closed due to the risk of Covid transmission.

The Mail: South Walney Nature Reserve Warden Sarah Dalrymple.South Walney Nature Reserve Warden Sarah Dalrymple.

Sarah Dalrymple, warden at South Walney Nature Reserve, said: "As our hides have to remain closed due to the continuing Covid pandemic, we've built an open air viewing screen next to Lighthouse Bay.

"From here, visitors can get a great view of the seals playing in Lighthouse Bay at high tide, and enjoy the spectacle of the thousands of oystercatchers, redshank, curlew and other birds that spend Winter on our nature reserve, without scaring them away."

She went on to say how this time of year there are various rare birds that have flown over from Greenland and Iceland for the winter which are definitely worth going to see.

There is of course the seals as well, which the reserve has become more and more famous for.